In recent years, like with everything else, the role of technology in memorial services has grown significantly.
Funeral Directors utilize it to enhance their service offerings and families can make opportunities for virtual attendance through live streams.
It has made it easy for families to access funeral resources and planning tools from the comfort of their homes. Some notable impacts of technology include:
Virtual Participation
Families now have the ability to live stream funeral services of their loved ones. It enables family members and friends who due to distance or other constraints cannot attend physically to participate. This has become increasingly common due to global crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recording Services
Besides a real-time viewing experience, the funeral service can also be recorded for later viewing. This accords family members and friends a chance to be part of the service at a later time, and a chance to say their final goodbye.
Impact for Sustainability
Thanks to technological advancements, today more efficient cremation chambers have been developed. In adherence to environmental regulations, they significantly reduce the usage of non-renewable fuels, cut down on emissions, and make the process eco-friendly. Families opt for biodegradable urns and caskets made from eco-friendly materials, as well as carry out green burial practices.
QR Codes on Headstones
In the past, headstones only contained the deceased’s name, date of birth and death, spouse name and perhaps a small image. Today however, QR codes provide a link accessible via a smartphone to more detailed information, text, images, and even video and sound.
Virtual Reality (VR) Experiences
Virtual reality offers an immersive way to remember loved ones. VR can be used to create immersive experiences of the deceased’s memories.
Enhanced Communication and Support
Online grief support resources, including counseling services, articles, and forums, provide valuable information and a sense of community for anyone going through a grieving process. Technology also facilitates communication among grieving family members and friends to stay connected and provide mutual support throughout the grieving process.